EME2040-Blog #1

In today's world technology is a huge part of everyday life. I believe teachers and students use technology to aid in education and to improve the way things are done. Technology can be extremely positive and can help with learning, but when we rely too much on technology or technology takes over I believe it can be a hinderance. Right now I think educators are trying to find this balance and they are constantly adding and trying to find the best and most effective ways for students to learn. 

I found all of the ISTE Standards very interesting and helpful. They reminded me of some of the high leverage teaching practices that I learned about last semester in my EDF1005 class. One ISTE Standard that I feel is very important and is something I do well is the role of facilitator. Educators facilitate learning and I have done this especially in my coaching. The teacher or coach is always trying to help the students learn and gain skills. Another ISTE standard that I view as important is Integrating Computational Thinking. This is an area that I feel I need to improve on. I am hopeful that through my EME2040 class I will gain a better grasp on my computer skills and this will help me to be a better educator. 

I do agree with the label of digital native for todays youth. They were born with all of this new technology and have grown up with it, therefore, most kids know their way around technology better than a lot of adults. In high school the difference between myself and my classmates (digital natives) when compared to our teachers (digital immigrants) was extremely obvious. I remember in some classes it would be almost everyday that a student would have to get up and help the teacher with a powerpoint, a smart board, or other various technology that was not readily available to our teachers when they were in school. We still accomplished a lot in class, but most days a few minutes were lost due to the teachers not understanding technology. I remember when smart boards came out and these were particularly troublesome. As a future educator, I don't think I will have the same troubles that my teachers did because I have grown up with the technology and have learned how to use it along the way. The digital immigrants had to go back and try to learn the new technology. I believe this is much harder than growing with technology and learning as you go, which is what the digital natives have been lucky enough to do.